10 MARCH 2010

With South Africa hosting the World Cup, the year 2010 has necessitated breaks in tradition and innovative thinking by administrators of many South African sporting codes; horseracing being no different. This year’s Champions Season sees the R1.2million Canon Gold Cup brought forward a month, and for this year only, will be run on Saturday, June 26.

With the Vodacom Durban July already having moved to Saturday, July 31, from its traditional spot on the first Saturday in July, Gold Circle had to rethink some aspects of the Champions Season programme. The Canon Gold Cup, the most prestigious staying race on the national calendar, traditionally falls on the first Saturday in August, making it the first major racemeeting of the new racing season. But it made no sense to have two 12-race programmes staged within a week of each other.

As a result, it was decided to move the Canon Gold Cup forward in order to maximise the entertainment factor of horseracing with so many international guests visiting Durban and providing top class racing as a viable entertainment option.

The Canon Gold Cup will retain its charity angle and will remain a welcome opportunity for charities to raise much needed funds. Through the provision of a marquee infrastructure, some 18 fundraising organisations will again benefit this year.

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Clairwood Nett Quartet MaxiPool C/O: R96 139 on Sunday, 07 March 2010 - Estimated pool: R500 000 (Race 9 @17h00)

Turffontein Nett Pick 6 Maxi C/O: R29 284 to race 4(14h35) on Saturday, 06 March 2010 - No estimated pool

Meydan (UAE) Nett Quartet MaxiPool C/O: R20 793 on Thursday, 04 March 2010 (Race 7 @20h45) - No estimated pool

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EAGLE MOUNTAIN, the 2008 Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1) winner who was campaigned around the world by trainer Mike de Kock, has been retired after his latest injury setback.
The Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum-owned six year-old will be retired to stud after injuring a tendon in training. His final run saw him finish second at Meydan last month.
De Kock said: “This is his third career-threatening injury. He’s been a great servant to Sheikh Mohammed and the stable and did us proud. Eagle Mountain’s future as a stallion is being discussed and we will entertain offers for him.’’
Eagle Mountain, by Rock Of Gibraltar, amassed prize-money of over £2 million in a 19-race career during which he won five times. He recorded his biggest success in Hong Kong but also captured the Group 2 UAE Royal Whip Stakes and the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at The Curragh, when trained by Aidan O’Brien. He also won the Group 3 Nayef Joel Stakes at Newmarket for De Kock.
As a three-year-old he finished second to Authorized in the Group 1 Vodafone Derby and at five was second to Conduit in the Group 1 Breeders Cup Turf at Santa Anita racecourse.
De Kock added: “He has an amazing race record and was one of the best horses I have ever worked with.”
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, no sooner had Brett Doyle got the ride on three-time Hong Kong Mile winner Good Ba Ba than he has been jocked off in favour of Weichong Marwing, who will take over in the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night.
Doyle took over from the sacked Olivier Doleuze in last Sunday’s Hong Kong Gold Cup, where the partnership came late to finish fourth behind Collection.
According to the South China Morning Post, Doyle has now lost out himself in this game of musical chairs, with South African Marwing set to take over.
Doyle will ride Derek Cruz-trained stablemate Joy And Fun in Hong Kong.
“Brett’s been riding Joy And Fun for a while and he’s done a good job on him, but the owner of Good Ba Ba wanted a change of jockey,” said Cruz, who took over training Good Ba Ba only after he had been removed from Andreas Schutz.
“We discussed a few different riders, but Mr Yuen liked Marwing and he wanted to give him a chance on the horse. And Weichong has had a lot of experience riding in Dubai when he was riding for Mike de Kock.”
Marwing won the Duty Free on Right Approach in 2004.
Presvis, generally a 12-1 shot for the Emirates Airlines Dubai World Cup, is reported to be in great shape after his return to winning form in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta at Meydan last Thursday. The Luca Cumani-trained six-year-old was reunited with Ryan Moore for the first time since being beaten a head by Gloria De Campeao in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji last May and ran on well in the closing stages to score by a 1,5 lengths from odds-on Alexandros.
Cumani said yesterday: “It was nice to see Presvis win again and he is fine after the race. He has come out of it well and we are delighted with him.” - Racingpost

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The full Champions Season programme for 2010 is as follows:

CHAMPIONS SEASON 2010 - PROVISIONAL KZN FEATURE RACE PROGRAMME
DATE DAY VEN RACE GR DIST STAKE AGE RACE CONDITIONS
02-Apr Fri GreyN KWAZULU-NATAL STAKES L 1000 125,000 F & M Set weights
04-Apr Sun Clwd EASTER HANDICAP L 2000 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
11-Apr Sun Scot SUNDAY TRIBUNE BYERLEY TURK G3 1400 200,000 3 yr Set weights
SUNDAY TRIBUNE UMZIMKHULU G3 1400 150,000 3 yr Fillies Set weights
21-Apr Wed Clwd POINSETTIA STAKES G3 1200 150,000 F & M Weight for Age
27-Apr Tue Scot UMKHOMAZI STAKES G2 1200 200 000 2 yr Set weights
THE DEBUTANTE G2 1200 200 000 2 yr Fillies Set weights
THE SLEDGEHAMMER L 1800 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
02-May Sun GreyD KRA GUINEAS G2 1600 500,000 3 yr Level weights
KRA FILLIES GUINEAS G2 1600 250 000 3 yr Fillies Level weights
05-May Wed Scot THE SCARLET LADY L 1800 125,000 F & M Merit Rated handicap
07-May Fri GreyN DRILL HALL STAKES G2 1400 350,000 Open Weight for Age
IN FULL FLIGHT HANDICAP U 1000 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
16-May Sun Clwd HIGHLAND NIGHT CUP U 2500 120,000 Open Merit Rated race
21-May Fri GreyN BETTING WORLD 1900 G2 1900 350,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
23-May Sun Clwd EAST COAST HANDICAP L 2000 125,000 F & M Merit Rated handicap
29-May Sat Scot GOLDEN HORSE CASINO SPRINT G1 1200 600,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
SA FILLIES SPRINT G1 1200 500,000 F & M Weight for Age
GOLD REEF RESORTS MEDALLION G1 1200 500 000 2 yr Level weights
ALLAN ROBERTSON FILLIES CHAMPS G1 1200 500,000 2 yr Fillies Level weights
05-Jun Sat GreyD DAILY NEWS 2000 G1 2000 1 000 000 3 yr Level weights
WOOLAVINGTON 2000 G1 2000 500 000 3 yr Fillies Level weights
LONSDALE STIRRUP CUP G3 2400 200 000 Open Merit Rated race
12-Jun Sat Clwd RISING SUN GOLD CHALLENGE G1 1600 750,000 Open Weight for Age
CUP TRIAL G3 1800 200 000 Open Merit Rated handicap
GATECRASHER STAKES U 1450 120,000 2 yr Set weights
DEVON AIR STAKES U 1450 120,000 2 yr Fillies Set weights
KZN CHAPTER U 1200 150 000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series
WINTER CHALLENGE U 1600 150 000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series
FINALS U 2000 150 000 Open Handicap subject to terms of series
18-Jun Fri GreyN POST MERCHANTS G2 1200 350,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
26-Jun Sat Grey CANON GOLD CUP G1 3200 1,200,000 Open Merit Rated race
GOLD BRACELET G2 2000 250,000 F & M Weight for Age
TIBOUCHINA STAKES G2 1450 200 000 F & M Weight for Age
THUKELA HANDICAP L 1600 125,000 Open Merit Rated handicap
03-Jul Sat Clwd CHAMPIONS CUP G1 1800 750,000 Open Conditions race
GOLDEN HORSESHOE G1 1450 500 000 2 yr Level weights
GOLDEN SLIPPER G1 1450 500 000 2 yr Fillies Level weights
GOLD CIRCLE DERBY G2 2400 350,000 3 yr Level weights
GOLD CIRCLE OAKS G2 2400 250,000 3 yr Fillies Level weights
06-Jul Tue Scot QUEEN PALM HANDICAP L 2400 125,000 F & M Merit Rated race
11-Jul Sun Clwd KZN BREEDERS 1600 L 1600 250,000 3 /4 yr Conditions for KZN breds
18-Jul Sun Clwd MERCURY SPRINT G1 1200 600,000 Open Horses at WFA
24-Jul Sat Scot OFF TO STUD HANDICAP L 1800 150,000 4 yr+ F & M Merit Rated handicap
31-Jul Sat GreyD/N VODACOM DURBAN JULY G1 2200 3,000,000 Open Merit Rated race (with conditions)
GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES G1 1600 500 000 F & M Weight for Age
PREMIER’S CHAMPION STAKES G1 1600 500 000 2 yr Level weights
THEKWINI FILLIES STAKES G1 1600 500 000 2 yr Fillies Level weights
GOLD VASE G2 3000 400,000 Open Merit Rated race
CAMPANAJO 2200 G3 2200 200 000 Open Merit Rated handicap
07-Aug Sat Clwd UMNGENI HANDICAP L 1000 150 000 Open Merit Rated race
THE DARLEY ARABIAN L 1900 150 000 4 yr Set weights
Contact National Racing Bureau for any queries: 031 314 1777 • 0822850999 Subject to change 10/03/2010

Ends

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